THE ROYAL ELEPHANT HUNT AT THE KNYSNA, 195 



tell him to hasten up, for the Duke was anxious that 

 his Excellency should enjoy the sight, and certainly it 

 was a sight in every way worth enjoying. 



There we sat, high up on the ridge, with the valley 

 below us, in which the elephants were quietly grazing 

 and little dreaming that enemies were near, while on 

 the further side of the valley the scenery was splendid, 

 mountain upon mountain, in every conceivable shape, 

 stretching away before us to the verge of the horizon. 

 It was truly a noble prospect, and no doubt Mr. 

 Brierley, the Duke's artist, will do it justice. The 

 Governor having come up, and a considerable time 

 having been spent in watching the elephants, the 

 Duke made a move, and, followed by the hunters, 

 descended into the valley. Here the party separated, 

 the Duke, escorted by a few specially selected men, 

 under the command of Mr. George Kex, taking the 

 direction which was considered most likely to bring 

 him near the elephants, while the others placed them- 

 selves in such spots as they thought would enable 

 them also to get a shot. But things did not turn out 

 according to our wishes, for, after spending more 

 than an hour in vain attempts to find the elephants, 

 which were now hidden from view by the bush, the 

 Duke did not obtain a sight of them until they had 

 got to the farther side of a broad and deep ravine, 

 and he was therefore compelled to fire at a long range. 



